The Rebel Son

Detective Kat Ballantyne #5

by Andy Maslen

A journalist’s final words lead Kat Ballantyne into a deadly game of power, corruption and terror.

A bomb threat at Middlehampton’s Powerhouse music venue sends DS Kat Ballantyne spiralling into a nightmare—her husband and son are inside. As the city reels in terror, Kat fights to keep her family safe while being pulled into another deadly case that may well be connected…

A journalist investigating a controversial football club takeover makes a chilling 999 call before collapsing. Hours later, he’s dead. His apparent murder marks the beginning of a dangerous trail of corruption leading to a foreign royal family. Or is the killer closer to home? With a murder to solve, a terrorist plot unfolding and rival agencies vying for supremacy, Kat must untangle the truth before it’s too late.

Justice always comes at a price—and this time, it could cost her everything.

Genres: Audiobook, Crime, Fiction

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2025

About the author

MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLER

Andy Maslen writes thrillers across a number of genres: police procedurals, vigilante, psychological, suspense and horror. He spent 30 years in business before turning to writing full time.

Readers praise Andy's novels for their relatable characters, realistic dialogue, sense of place and kinetic action sequences, and for his meticulous research into police procedure around the world.

He is the creator of best-selling series featuring Kat Ballantyne, Gabriel Wolfe, Stella Cole and Inspector Ford, plus standalone novels and short stories.

Andy was born in Nottingham, England. After leaving university with a degree in psychology, he worked in business for thirty years as a copywriter. In his spare time, he plays the guitar. He lives in Wiltshire.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Kat Ballantyne is back! And this time we open up with a bomb threat!
She is told to report directly to work…BUT, her husband and son are at the exact place of the supposed bomb! 😮😮😮
What would you do?
Risk your job and go against orders, or, try to save your family???

Additionally, we have a journalist/reporter who seems to have a single minded vision to stop something/someone…
And he is set to do just that…
But then, the unthinkable happens!!!

This was loaded with characters, crazy plays, new bosses, new office arrangements… and so much more.
And. Kat has a new member of the force following her…like a mentor.

I’m going to 🛑 stop 🛑 here as I don’t want to give anything away… but wow, this one was crazy!!

#TheRebelSon by @AndyMaslen and narrated nicely by @EllPotter.

4 big, bold, scary stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE 👀 LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON 10/15/25!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, this is one of those series that I get ridiculously excited about when it lands in my inbox.

This is book #5 in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, and it just keeps getting better, and this installment was no exception!

When a bomb detonates at Middlehampton's music venue, Powerhouse, Kat jumps into action. Her husband and son are there. Arriving at the scene, she ignores all protocols and charges in, desperately searching for her family. When they appear from the smoke, like they are on a movie set, Kat can start breathing again, but not for long, she has a terrorist to find... until she doesn't!

On the same night of the bombing, a local journalist who investigating the takeover of the local football club calls for an ambulance, everything points to a heart attack until his last words are replayed "they killed me".

Kat and her team, including a new officer on rotation, are sidelined from investigating the bombing when counter terrorism take control of the case. They are left to find out what happened to the journalist, and what they find, due to Kat's pure tenacious determination, makes her believe that both cases are connected, but can she prove it?

I'm enjoying learning more and more about Kat, her team, and her family with each book, and the other 'one book' characters are always executed brilliantly. I was completely invested in the chaos the new members offered with this storyline, especially Vicky *no spoilers*.

A tale of corruption, conspiracy, and twists galore this was a full on page turner!

The only small niggle I have is the ending. For the first time it hasn't all been tied up with a big fat bow, it definitely feels like it's going to be carried over into #6, which I'm not mad about, I just like to have all my questions answered 🤣🤣 with a full conclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

The fifth outing in Andy Maslen’s outstanding Detective Kat Ballantyne series, The Rebel Son is a fast-paced police procedural.

Instead of enjoying an evening at home, Detective Sergeant Kat Ballantyne fears for her husband, Van, and fourteen-year-old son Riley’s lives. They are at the venue where a bomb threat has just been called in. Kat is determined to get to the location and find her loved ones no matter what. In the aftermath, she and her team are sidelined by the terrorism squad. They are instead assigned to the very suspicious death of local investigative journalist Pete Vaughan.

Kat’s bosses insist she stay out of the bombing investigation when ordered to do so by Metropolitan Detective Inspector Sharon Critchlow. She is not happy about it, but complies with the directive. She, along with Detective Constables Leah Hooper, Faisal “Fez” Mohammad, and Tom Gray, try to understand exactly who wanted Pete dead. His widow, Dalma, is certain his murder is related to the exposé he is working currently working on about the local football club’s upcoming purchase by royalty from a Middle Eastern country.

The Rebel Son is a clever police procedural that old and new fans of the Detective Kat Ballantyne series are sure to enjoy. Kat is a seasoned detective with great instincts. Her team is very proficient and they quickly uncover valuable information. The storyline is flawlessly executed with the investigation unfolding at an even pace. Andy Maslen brings this suspeneful mystery to realistic conclusion.

[a r u s h i · Rating 4 out of 5]

An addictive, pulse-pounding thriller that had me laughing, gasping, and clutching my Kindle like my life depended on it. The Rebel Son delivers nightmare fuel (hello, spider tank), razor-sharp dialogue, and a protagonist so vivid I felt like I was living her life. Dark, layered, and wildly immersive — Andy Maslen has written a book that left me shaken, breathless, and desperate for more.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Oh. My. GOD. This book had me by the throat from page one and refused to let go until I was a sweaty, wide-eyed mess clinging to my poor Kindle like it was a flotation device in a storm. This wasn’t just reading — this was me being dragged, screaming and giggling, through an emotional obstacle course I was absolutely not prepared for.

First of all, let’s address the absolute crime that is the spider tank scene. I was minding my business, sipping tea, when BAM — giant spider slams into the glass at Kat. I shrieked. I flailed. I nearly yeeted my Kindle into the nearest wall. My skin still crawls when I think about it. And yet, did I stop reading? Of course not. Because Andy Maslen is the kind of author who knows exactly how to torture you while keeping you addicted.

And Kat. My god, Kat. She’s written so vividly that half the time I was her. Trudging into creepy rooms, poking into conversations she should definitely have walked away from, but owning every damn moment. That scene with Eileen Forster and the whole scorpion-versus-spider debate? I could hear the dry wit dripping off the page. And then the casual mention of “UglyBugs forum” like cockroach appreciation belongs in a murder case? I laughed out loud, then immediately remembered I was supposed to be terrified. Whiplash, but make it literary.

Kat herself is the backbone of this novel and she is written so vividly I swear I became her at points. She is dogged, flawed, vulnerable, funny in that dry way that sneaks up on you, and yet relentlessly determined. I felt her heartbeat in my throat when she confronted suspects, her exhaustion when she carried grief on her shoulders, and her simmering fury when people underestimated her. When Van tossed out that snide little “don’t keep your boyfriend waiting” and the conversation about Jack Beale sparked tension in her marriage, I wanted to shake him and also cry for her. That scene had me muttering at my screen like some unhinged sports fan.

The pacing? Brutal. Deliciously brutal. One second I’m sipping tea with Gerald Hynde and picturing his liver-spotted hand while ghosts practically rattle the windows, and the next second I’m choking on phantom smoke at a crematorium while Kat navigates grief and suspicion like it’s her day job. Smooth. Immersive. Seamless. I wasn’t reading chapters; I was living them.

But let’s be honest, this book is not just polite tea and biscuits. No. This book is “oh hell no she didn’t” on repeat. The confrontation with Frank Strutt? When Kat’s piecing together bomb ingredients and someone casually drops the “Arab buyer” detail? I was clutching my chest like a 19th-century widow. The rage bled off the page, Kat’s pulse was racing, mine was too, and I think I aged five years in those few pages. And then the quieter gut punches — Van accusing her about Jack Beale, her marriage wobbling under her feet — those were the moments that had me throwing my Kindle onto the couch, storming off dramatically, and crawling back five minutes later whispering “fine, one more chapter.”

The layering in this book is next-level. Spiders, scorpions, shady forums, black briefcases, secret bank statements, sketchy political figures — but it all comes back to grief, trust, and the impossible choices people make under pressure. Every character adds spice to the chaos. Milo Smith, the eccentric arachnologist, Dalma with her frosty demeanor that cracks just enough, Eileen being unintentionally hilarious — they all pulled me deeper into the web. I didn’t feel like a reader; I felt like Kat’s unwilling accomplice.

And then the final stretch. Oh boy. By the time Saleem Elwani was circling Kat and the Crown Prince was waltzing through airports with his entourage, I was literally sweating. My heart was pounding, my finger hovered over the page button, desperate and terrified in equal measure. And then Vicky Palmer opened her mouth and delivered that twisted, ice-cold justification. I was seething. I wanted to reach into the page and throttle her. But at the same time I had to stand back and clap, because that’s the sign of damn good writing — when you hate someone so much you can’t look away.

By the end, I was ruined. I was Kat — storming into interviews, piecing clues together, clinging to the belief that murder is wrong while everyone else tried to drag me into moral quicksand. That last line, “But it was. For now.” left me sitting in silence, staring into the void, whispering like a lunatic.

So yes, immersive doesn’t even begin to cover it. This book is addictive, horrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly consuming. It made me laugh, gasp, rant, curse, and nearly throw my Kindle into orbit. What more could you want from a thriller?

A massive thank you to Andy Maslen and NetGalley for letting me devour this ARC — I am wrecked, exhilarated, and already counting the days until everyone else gets to spiral with me.

Now excuse me while I go lie down, because my heart rate still hasn’t recovered.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 5 in the DS Kat Ballantyne series. I found this to be a bit of a slow burner and not much of a storyline until half wY through. Have enjoyed others in the series a lot more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the series with Kat and her team!!!

Definitely a series to read and highly recommend.

A bomb explosion and a killer scorpion….. how on earth do they link…. Or do they? What a journey to find out the truth!

[Shyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series KB is bad ass 💅

[Kate Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series sooooo much. Bit cliched. Kats a bit annoying but always gripped and great range of stories

[JLR · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is by far the weakest book in the series thus far. It was still a decent read but the story was muddled and some parts just weren’t believable at all.

Kat running into a bomb threat area and just happening upon Van and Riley in the crowd?

Abby’s entire presence was ridiculous and added nothing to the story and, in fact, detracted it from it.

The whole football team buyout/scorpion/bomb thing was convoluted from start to finish.

Shoehorning Liv into the story was awkward and unnecessary in this instance.

Most of all: Kat would not have been allowed ANYWHERE near the bomb case or the murder case based solely on the fact her family was involved as victims and her father in the soccer team thing. She probably would’ve been placed on leave entirely until it was resolved just to avoid any appearance of conflict.

It was uneven and sloppy storytelling - hope the next one is better.

[Gloria Bockrath · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, the flowery descriptions did not match the main character, a police woman. Again, just my taste, the descriptions made Kay seem less serious and less professional. I never did figure out why the title, The Rebel Son. Who was the Rebel son?

[Ashlyn Hardie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually read this series as I’m invested in the characters and love detective novels. This one was a bit of a letdown. It ended quite abruptly and with no satisfaction.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in audiobook format. 🎧

Andy Maslen’s The Rebel Son, the fifth installment in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, detonates with emotional urgency and political intrigue. It’s a taut, high-stakes thriller that doesn’t just test its protagonist’s mettle—it tests the listener’s nerves. With Ell Potter’s narration adding a visceral layer of immediacy, this audiobook becomes a full-body experience: tense, intimate, and unflinchingly human.

🔥Terror, Truth, and Family on the Line
A bomb threat at Middlehampton’s Powerhouse music venue throws DS Kat Ballantyne into a nightmare scenario—her husband and son are inside. As the city reels, Kat is pulled into a parallel investigation involving a journalist who dies shortly after making a chilling emergency call. His final words hint at a conspiracy involving a controversial football club takeover, foreign royalty, and a tangled web of corruption that stretches far beyond the pitch.

Maslen’s plotting is razor-sharp. The dual crises—personal and professional—are interwoven with precision, creating a narrative that feels both expansive and claustrophobic. The stakes are not just national security—they’re Kat’s family, her integrity, and the fragile trust between institutions.

🎙️ Ell Potter brings a textured vulnerability to Kat Ballantyne that elevates the emotional resonance of the story. Her pacing mirrors the urgency of the plot, while her tonal shifts—between Kat’s steely resolve and moments of maternal fear—are masterfully controlled. Potter doesn’t just read the story; she inhabits it. Her performance adds depth to the supporting cast, especially the morally ambiguous players in the political and journalistic spheres.

For listeners familiar with Potter’s work on Hamnet or Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, her range is already evident. Here, she channels that versatility into a performance that balances grit with grace.

Maslen probes the porous boundaries between public duty and private loyalty. Kat’s struggle isn’t just to solve a case—it’s to reconcile her role as a detective with her role as a mother.

The novel asks: What happens when the institutions meant to protect us become compromised? And how do we navigate truth when every source is suspect?

The title, The Rebel Son, resonates on multiple levels—hinting at familial rupture, political defiance, and the generational consequences of secrecy. Maslen doesn’t offer easy answers, but he does offer a protagonist who refuses to look away.

📝 The Rebel Son is a blistering procedural with a beating heart. It’s ideal for listeners who crave thrillers that don’t sacrifice emotional depth for plot velocity. With Ell Potter’s narration amplifying every twist and tremor, this audiobook is a standout in the genre—urgent, intelligent, and deeply human.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is the first book I have read or listened to by this author and I didn't know what to expect but the blurb peaked my interest. So glad it did. Not only was it a nice change from my usual cozy mystery but it was as good and engaging as any police Procedural you could watch on tv. There was so much going on, with the team investigating a reporters death and trying to stay out of the big boys way as they take over the bombing incident. Of course it's not that simple and the investigation takes lots of twists. I never did see the ending coming but it certainly has me hoping the next book will be out soon. The murder weapon was very unusual and the author gets point for originality, it certainly made the case interesting. I like the characters, who have a lot of backstory and things happening in there personal life, although with the pace the investigation took there wasn't much time for home lives. It was written in such away that it was easy to follow along and although I didn't feel like I would have understood the characters better if I started with book one, I might just to back to see what I have missed while I wait forward for the next book because I amassing the series to my must read list.

When a bomb threat is called in DS Kat Ballantyne life beings to spiral out of control, as her husband and teenage son are attending the concert. With the bomb exploding the case gets taken over by outside help and Kat and her team are relegated to more mundane cases. When a phone call from a journalist comes in claiming somebody has killed him Kat follows up on the case. The doctor wants to rule the death as heart attack but his dying words has Kat wanting to take a closer look. He was writing an article about a football club take over by controversial foreign royal. The article means her team, who are displaced from there usual offices and training a rookie, have a lot of suspects to track down. the dead man made enemies easily and the method of death is unusual. When a connection arises to the bombing case, Kat wonders if the two incidents could be connected and she will get the chance to take down the people who put her family in danger.
I liked the narrator. She helped to bring the story to life by providing each character with there own voice.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*, despite a puzzling and misleading -deliberately so? - title.

This is a book I've been waiting for with huge impatience since the last Kat Ballantyne tale ended. It opens with a banger and ends with one, too, although I'm not sure how the latter ties in with what comes next. There's the vaguest connection with Kat's dad, who came across as half-decent due to banger#1, then seemed to have reverted to his underhand dealings again just before banger#2.

The storyline itself is non-stop, calling out sportswashing; the death of the journalist Kashoggi; the Saudi involvement in the latter and how it's all been brushed under the carpet, because of money, money, money. And corruption. And greed. And 'the bigger picture'. Kudos to Andy Maslen and Thomas and Mercer for going there.

The storyline was decent. The suspects were plentiful. The infighting of the various parts of the UK's security services/police/Met was entertaining, although I also wanted to smack a couple of characters. Carve-up's oneupmanship attempts were smacked down time and time again by a female with balls bigger than his, although she didn't play well with Kat. There was quite a lot of bitching and dissing that seemed like it'd happen IRL.

I'm not sure about, though, and don't think I like where the author is taking Kat and the coroner/pathologist character. Dreaming about him, fantasising about him, saying his name in her sleep, feeling things are off with Van, gives me a bit of tummy ache. She's got a good thing going with Van and Reilly, and she's a fool if she has an affair, as well as a hypocrite, seeing that she despises her dad for his cheating. I think if she does, that'll be the last book about her I'll read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

“The Rebel Son” is the 5th entry in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series by Andy Maslen. The premise sounded interesting and so even though I wasn’t familiar with the series, I thought I would give it a shot. Since I was listening to the audiobook, I can honestly say, that was 9 hours of my time I can’t get back.

The mystery had so much potential, but the writing was just blah. There were moments of interest, but it soon got bogged down in, well, I don’t know what.

Let’s start with the protagonist isn’t a likable person. Maybe it was the narrator, but the character comes off as whiney and a complainer. No one treats her right or respects her the way she deserves. Listen, that is a writing trope for mystery writing. But this just came across as a constant complaining. And yes, I know I’m being redundant. That’s on purpose. Because the author was redundant on this point.

In the introduction to the story, we know that Detective Ballantyne is married and has a kid. And yet she seems to be overly flirtatious with a couple of different characters.

And for me, as someone that has been impacted by drug abuse and lost people close to me by drug abuse, the author’s implication that a character “had not ever hurt anyone” when describing a low-level drug dealer just didn’t set well with me at all.

It’s possible I am missing something. I’m sure there are fans or otherwise this series wouldn’t get past one book. But for me, save youerself some time and find something worthwhile to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all the books in this series, so even though the plot of this one isn't my thing. I went ahead and read it. It involves a bomb threat at a concert venue (where Van and Riley happen to be), and it's all terrorism after that. When the call about the bomb threat comes in, she races straight for the venue, somehow gets past all manner of first responders and fleeing concertgoers heading in the opposite direction. Later on, she faces no discipline whatsoever for breaking countless protocols. This type of action thriller ridiculousness is not what I've come to expect from this series.

Then, a journalist dies suspiciously, and Kat's convinced that it's connected to the bomb threat. But the counter-terrorism officers brought in don't agree, and everyone fights over jurisdiction. Then, no kidding, here comes a beautiful MI6 agent to complicate everything further. Oh, and also to flirt with Kat, for some reason. Look, I know some people enjoy political thrillers, spy thrillers, etc., but that's not what this series has been about. And I hope this was just a one-off because I will have to stop reading the series if that's the case. The best part of the story for me was the scorpions, because they are always cool.

So, if you enjoy reading about terrorism, spies, and inter-agency disputes, then you will love this book. Otherwise, push on through and hope that's the last of it.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rebel Son By Andy Maslen is book 5 in the Detective Kat Ballantyne police series, which in my humble opinion just gets better and better.
The storyline starts with Kat driving like a maniac on her way to Middlehampton’s music venue, The Powerhouse where a bomb is set to detonate at 8.30. Kat’s husband and son are there to watch their favourite band.
Kat ignores every protocol she has ever known that night to find her family before the bomb explodes and eventually through the smoke and dust she sees them. Van and Riley are alive, even though Van spends time in hospital before the family is reunited.
The same night a journalist phones 999 and dies in hospital. He was investigating an influx of money from a controversial figure in Middle Eastern human rights, who is planning to purchase Middlehampton football club. With the possibility of new homes and a new retail park then being built a whole new influx of money and jobs.
Kat then investigates the bombing incident and the murder, until an influx of Met police officers come into the station and take over the bombing incident on terrorism grounds.
Kat is left to work the murder which her and her team do, including Abbie who is on trial to become a detective.
There is not a clear cut conclusion to the ending because politics comes into play.
It is however a tense, gripping story and is possibly the best in the Kat Ballantyne stories.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended

[Theld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Kat Ballantyne is back for the fifth time as her son and husband are put in jeopardy during a suspected terrorist attack. Kicked off the case due to her too close relationship to near victims, Kat gets handed the case of an investigative journalist who unexpectedly dies hours after making an unusual 999 call. Following her gut leads Kat and her team spiraling from conspiracies to the bombing that started it all.

Despite being the fifth in the series, Andy Maslen has managed to make The Rebel Son feel fresh and the plot remains interesting. It's hard to pinpoint how all the pieces Kat finds all fit together until the end making it hard to pull away from the story. The murder weapon was by far the most unique I've read. Kat and her team manages to keep doing the almost impossible while keeping their morbid sense of humor.

Ell Potter's voice for the audiobook of this was amazing. Her voice is so smooth and calming with a slower pace. While the differences between her narrations of characters is subtle, it's just enough to be distinct. She was able to perfectly depict the fear Kat would have during the bomb threat. It was heartbreaking to listen to. Fantastic performance.

Overall, The Rebel Son was a fantastic read even though it didn't end as expected. Full of action throughout and worth every second of reading or listening time.

*I received an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, okay, okay – where to begin with book five in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series? Was it better than the previous book? No way. Book four (The Lying Man) is still my favorite of the series. But was I out-loud gasping at the twists and turns this one took? Heck yeah I was! Was I also mad at the end? You bet.

Starting off with a terrorist threat of a bomb at a local music venue, where Kat’s husband Van and son Riley are currently waiting to see a show, was a wild start to the book. Heck, even Carve-up had a soul (for a minute) when realizing Kat’s family was in danger.

However, once the dust settles there is a list of problems to confront: the bombing killed two people, Kat can’t be on the team investigating due to her family ties, a strange death (read – MURDER) of a local journalist has occurred, Kat’s dad is still somehow tied to everything bad going on in the area and Kat still has to be a police officer, a wife, a mother, a friend and a human.

Each book in this series has built up challenges for Kat to face, evidence of her own father’s dirty deeds and pushed her limits morally and ethically as far as walking the line between being a good officer and a good person. In this book we see so much more corruption, police politics and human’s being selfish that the ending, while a shock, left me a bit frustrated. Clearly a set-up for book six coming out in March 2026, it felt like this book was the stepping stone on the way to a larger, perhaps final conclusion? I’m not sure if the next book coming out is the end of Kat’s story but it sure feels like it must be the way this book was a stepping stone.

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5–3.75 rounded up)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC!
I’ve been following this series from the start, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed the ride, but this one didn’t hit quite the same the other books.

The story kicks off strong: Kat racing to save her husband and son from a bombing had my heart pounding. The setup promised high-stakes drama and total chaos; exactly what I love about this series.
But after that, things started to lose steam a little. The terrorist attack, the journalist’s murder, the corruption subplot ... all good ingredients, but they didn’t quite blend into something that felt as sharp or purposeful as the earlier books.

I liked seeing Carv-Up get his ego bruised (he deserves that and way, way much more), but I’m still not loving how he treats Kat. And speaking of Kat (bruh bruh), I wasn’t sure how to feel about her little “flirty moment” subplot. It added tension, sure, but I really hope that thread doesn’t go too far in the next installment.

Overall, it’s still an engaging listen, packed with tension, moral gray areas and some serious “did that just happen?” moments. Just not my favorite in the series, but I’ll definitely be tuning in for whatever comes next.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series and this latest instalment, book five, is the best one yet!

The book starts explosively, literally, as DI Kat Ballantyne rushes to the scene of a terrorist bomb attack, at a venue where her husband and son are attending a gig.

But with terrorism on the table, Kat’s team are pushed aside and the investigation is headed up by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. Kat, as always, shows her determination and natural talent for crime-solving and uncovers an additional murder that would otherwise have been missed, bringing her, Tomski, Leah, Fez and new girl to MCU, Abby, back to the case.

There is a lot of tension, between the teams who continuously butt heads, and of course, Carve-up continues to behave like the worst kind of cop, the villain we love to hate, there are some epic plot twists and the ending, OMG! What a cliffhanger! Please don’t make us wait too long for the next instalment, Andy!

This book absolutely works as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting with book one, because the whole series is amazing, with recurring characters that I love continuing to get to know.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Andy Maslen and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Kat Ballantyne series by Andy Maslen. I have followed this series from the very start and it always manages to entertain me. Although I would recommend reading all the series this novel can be read as a standalone.

The story starts with a bomb threat at the Powerhouse music venue that sends shockwaves jolting through Kat. Her husband and son are both at the event and she immediately makes her way there. Simultaneously a journalist who is investigating a controversial football club takeover makes a desperate 999 call, only to be found dead hours later. What initially looks like two separate cases quickly merges into a single deadly conspiracy, stretching from the heart of the city to the corridors of international power.

I really enjoy the well thought out plots in this series and this is yet another exciting read. This latest case is both a big global case as well as a deeply personal one for Kat. Fast paced page turner that is an excellent read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and the main detective, Kat . As it starts, there is an explosion at a concert in the local football stadium. Kat's husband and son are there. During the chaos of the bomb, a 999 call is received when a local reporter says that he has been killed. He is admitted to hospital but dies from his injuries. Kat does briefly manage to speak to him. A middle eastern consortium is taking over the stadium for new development. Are they behind the different incidents?
I liked the investigations, Kat was excluded from the terror attack but does have some contact with those involved. The plot is quite intricate and there are few leads. Abby is working with the team for a secondment, I did not like that aspect. Would she be left alone so much and be allowed room to make the mistakes she did. As the book concludes, I thought that the plot started to lose momentum, suspense does build up towards the end , but I was not keen on the last couple of chapters.
A good read with some reservations. Thanks to Net galley for the ARC

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rebel Son by Andy Maslen is Book 5 in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. While there are nods to earlier books, the author provides enough context that I never felt lost. I really enjoyed the cast of characters and now plan to go back and read the previous installments.

The story kicks off with a bomb threat at a music venue—where DS Kat Ballantyne’s husband and son happen to be in the crowd. From there, the tension never lets up. A suspicious journalist’s death, the controversial sale of a local football club, whispers of political corruption, a terrorist plot, and a visiting Middle Eastern royal family who may be entangled in it all combine to create a gripping, high-stakes thriller packed with nonstop twists and suspense.

Ell Potter’s narration is perfectly suited to the story. Excellent production all around.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat is personally involved in the case of a bomb threat at a music concert as her husband and son were there and is therefore off the investigation. She then starts to work on the case of the death of a journalist who was making negative comments about a football club takeover involving a foreign royal family who rules their country by force. The more she investigates the more she believes that the two cases are connected but while part of the police force sees the case as terrorism she sees it as a case of corruption and the bomb threat as a way to divert the attention from the journalist's assassination. It's a complex case that involves political power, cultural values completly out of date in western civilizations, deceit, and makes Kat question her role in bringing justice to those who were wronged. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story opens with a bang! A bomb goes off at the local concert venue where Kat’s husband and son were among the attendees. Fortunately they survive, but a father and daughter are killed. Kat is taken off the case due to her conflict of interest. Instead she snags another mysterious case, which may or may not lead back to the bombing. I enjoyed this well-narrated detective story with several interesting characters, and I look forward to more in the series.
There are a few ongoing story threads that are not moved along very much, just sprinkled in for the sake of the longer arcs. I look forward to seeing where they take us.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook #TheRebelSon for review purposes. Publication date: 15 October 2025.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story for Det. Kat Ballantyne. This time there is a bomb threat called in for the Powerhouse Music venue where Kat's husband and son are at. Kat arrives to try to get to them before the bomb goes off, but doesn't make it. Both of her family members are slightly hurt, but there are two fatalities from the chaos. An investigative reporter dies the next day from an apparent heart attack. Is his death connected to the bomb? After much investigating, that is the conclusion of Kat and also some other members of the police dept. But, can it be proven. Kat has an uphill battle, and has to go around many of the higher ups in her dept., but will she be able to get justice....
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy)

[Martin Pingree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Kat Ballantyne is thrown into chaos when news breaks of a deadly explosion at the very concert her husband and son are attending. At the same time, an investigative reporter is found dead after digging into the suspicious sale of a local soccer club to a Middle Eastern prince. Coincidence—or something far more sinister?

As Kat and her team dig deeper, connections begin to surface, revealing a web of corruption, secrets, and dangerous power plays. Every lead brings new twists, and every revelation raises the stakes—not just for the city, but for Kat’s own family.

Packed with non-stop action, sharp intrigue, and a gripping cast of characters, this thriller will have you hooked until the final page. A must-read for fans of crime, conspiracy, and edge-of-your-seat drama!

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the previous DS Kat Ballantyne novels, so I was keen to get my hands on this latest instalment. As always with this series, the characters are strong and well-developed, and the pacing fast. The tale starts with a bang - quite literally, from which the author creates a great sense of atmosphere – the description of the devastation and panic following the bomb was just remarkable. However, the terrorist angle is not for me - I think it has been overdone, so this was a hard read. Ultimately, I am used to this series providing me with a solid police procedural that I can really get my teeth into, which sadly, this novel isn’t. However, whilst this is not my favourite in the series, I am still eagerly awaiting book six.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW The Rebel Son (Detective Kat Ballantyne Book 5) a detective series by Andy Maslen was so exciting and my first book in this series by him.

Kat Ballantyne and her team investigate a bomb threat which involved her son and husband, a murder of a journalist who makes an emergency call saying that someone has killed him, corruption involving a foreign royal family, politics, power and higher agencies getting involved which makes Kat and her team's job even harder.

Reminds me of a famous quote "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Which sums up everything this detective story brings to the plate.

I felt empathy for Kat's new rookie who is new to the team and wants to prove to Kat that she can do the job.